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excavation
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Archaeologists excavate sites so that they can find information and recover archaeological materials before they are destroyed by erosion, construction or changes in land-use.
Depending on how complicated and widespread the archaeological deposits are, excavation can be done by hand or with heavy machinery. Archaeologists may excavate a site in a number of ways; either by open area excavation, by digging a test pit or a trial trench. more ->
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Trial Trench
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A small regular hole that is usually square or rectangular in shape. Archaeologists dig trial trenches to discover if there are any archaeological remains at a particular location. See also excavation.
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Roman
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About 43 AD to 409 AD (the 1st century AD to the 5th century AD)
The Roman period comes after the Iron Age and before the Saxon period.
The Roman period in Britain began in 43 AD when a Roman commander called Aulus Plautius invaded the south coast, near Kent. There were a series of skirmishes with the native Britons, who were defeated. In the months that followed, more Roman troops arrived and slowly moved westwards and northwards. more ->
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Post Medieval
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About 1540 AD to 1750 AD (the 16th century AD to the 18th century AD)
The Post Medieval period comes after the medieval period and before the Imperial period.
This period covers the second half of the reign of the Tudors (1485 – 1603), the reign of the Stuarts (1603 – 1702) and the beginning of the reign of the Hannoverians (1714 – 1836). more ->
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SITE *
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Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible.
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ARCHAEOLOGICAL FEATURE *
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Use only for features assumed to be archaeological but which cannot be identified more precisely without further investigation .Use more specific term where known
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BUILDING *
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A structure with a roof to provide shelter from the weather for occupants or contents. Use specific type where known.
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STONE *
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Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function.
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FEATURE *
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Areas of indeterminate function.
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DRAIN *
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An artificial channel for draining water or carrying it off.
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RAMPART *
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A protective earthen mound, often the main defence of a fortification.
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PIT *
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A hole or cavity in the ground, either natural or the result of excavation. Use more specific type where known.
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MUSEUM *
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A building, group of buildings or space within a building, where objects of value such as works of art, antiquities, scientific specimens, or other artefacts are housed and displayed.
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DEFENCE *
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This is the top term for the class. See DEFENCE Class List for narrow terms.
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TRENCH *
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An excavation used as a means of concealment, protection or both.
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SQUARE *
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An open space or area, usually square in plan, in a town or city, enclosed by residential and/or commercial buildings, frequently containing a garden or laid out with trees.
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GARDEN *
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An enclosed piece of ground devoted to the cultivation of flowers, fruit or vegetables and/or recreational purposes. Use more specific type where known.
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STRUCTURE *
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A construction of unknown function, either extant or implied by archaeological evidence. If known, use more specific type.
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WALL *
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An enclosing structure composed of bricks, stones or similar materials, laid in courses. Use specific type where known.
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TOWN *
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An assemblage of public and private buildings, larger than a village and having more complete and independent local government.
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GARAGE *
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Use only for buildings which house motor vehicles. Includes garages for vehicle repair. For petrol sales use PETROL STATION.
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CONSTRUCTION TRENCH *
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A trench dug in order to receive the foundations of a structure such as a stone wall etc.
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* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)